Liquid dispensing apparatus



LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1933. v BRAKE 1,925,043

LIQUID DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20; 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 19 33 ,zas

LIQUID DISPENSING APPTUS George U. Brake, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Toirlieim iDil Tank and Furnp Company, Fort Wayne, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Application January 20, 1933. Serial No. 852,673

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing apparatus in which definite quantities of liquid are drawn from a storage tank, measured and displayed, and thereafter delivered to patrons through operation of a motor-driven pump.

One of the objects of the invention is to expeditiously supply patrons with liquid, such for example, as gasoline for use in automobiles, after the quantity of the liquid to be delivered has been displayed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is an elevation of a structure in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation shown partially in cross-section projected from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a side elevation of manually operated control mechanism for the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a rear elevation of the driving clutch member for the control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a, detail plan view showing the clutch for the control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the manually operated controlling mechanism, parts being in sec- 'tion;

Fig. '7 is a detail isometric'view oi the driven clutch member;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the manually operated control mechanism in position for the filling operation;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism in vertical section as disposed during the filling operation;

Fig. 10 is a vertical elevation of the manually controlled operating mechanism in neutral position;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism in vertical section as disposed alter the filling operation;

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the manually operated controlling mechanism as disposed during the dispensing operation;

Fig. 13 is a detail view or the clutch mechanism in vertical section as disposed during the dispensing operation;

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the switch operating levers in transverse section and parts operatlvely associated therewith;

Fig. 15 is a detail plan view of the trip mechanism for controlling one'oi the switch operating levers, a portion being in section; and

Fig. 16 is a side elevation projected from Fig. 15.

The illustrative'embodiment of the invention consists of a hollow pedestal 1 having a base 2 at its bottom and a capital 3 at its top. A glass or a driving chain 10. The suction inlet 11 oi the pump is connected with a two-way valve 12 of usual construction that is arranged in line with a. suction pipe having, two branches l3 and 14. The branch 13 extends into a storage tank (not shown) such as is ordinarily located underground and used in connection with liquid fuel dispensing apparatus, so that when said twoway valve 12 is in one of its positions liquid from the storage tank is withdrawn therefrom upon operation of the pump. The branch-l4 of the suction pipe has communication with the lower end of the measuring vessel 4 so that when said two-way valve 12 is in its other position liquid from the measuring vessel 4 is withdrawn therefrom upon operation of the pump.

The discharge outlet 15 of the pump is connected by a pipe 16 with a second two-way valve 17 that is connected with the lower end of the measuring vessel 4 by a supply pipe 18, and has also' connected therewith a dispensing pipe 19 terminating with a distributing hose 20 provided with a manually operated valve controlled discharge nozzle 21.

The two-way'valve 12 has an operating arm 12' and the two-way valve 17 also has an operat;

'ing arm 17 oppositely disposed respecting the arm 12, and said arms are connected by means of a pair of links 22 and 23 arranged so that turning movement of one of said valves is accompanied by corresponding opposite turning movement of the other or said valves. Thus, when the valve 12 is positioned to connect the suction line 13 with the inlet 11 o! the pump, the branch 14 of the suction line is shut oil and the valve '17 is then positioned to connect the discharge outlet 15 or the pump with the measuring vessel through the medium 01' the pipes 16 and 18, and the dispensing pipe 19 is shut oil. when said valves are thus upon operation of the pump, the measuring vessel is supplied with liquid from the storage tank. When said valves are adjusted to their respective opposite positions, the branch 13 of the suction line is shut ofi the vessel 4 and the suction inlet 11 of the pump are connected; the supply pipe 18 is shut off; and the discharge outlet of the pump and the dispensing pipe 19 are connected. When the valves are thus dispomd, upon operation of the pump, liquid from the measuring vessel i is drawn through the branch 14 into the pump and from thence expelled through the pines l6 and i9, hose so and the manually operated nozzle, discharge through the nozzle 21 being more or less in volume eccordingly as the nozzle valve is manipulated.

uring v-e receive vessel may be emptied t e storage t when so 21 whereby the content heel; into ti ough the hose wheel is turned in the opposite direction the arm 33 is moved from engagement with the lever 35, and then the arm 34 has operative engagement with the lever 36, which causes the switch stem 29 to be depressed and the switch is closed when said arm, is so depressed. Thus, when the handwheel 30 is tin-nod to one of its extreme positions (Fig. 8) the switch is closed through the medium of the arm 33, lever 35, lever 36, and the stem 29. When the hand-wheel is turned to its opposite extreme position (Fig. 12) the switch is closed through the medium oi the 3i, lever and the stem The arms 33 and 3 are so dive-recently disposed that operative engcr ment of 33 with the lever 35 occur ericd in the turning movement oi. the rt title "T q Silt on. it

lever to 1 intetw snewith res: the face is secured a the position of the operst by the opera-to the two-way valves 12 .s in connection therewith '12 a switch 2''] through lied to the motor the l? which for automatically o which current is 01.! conductors {not shorts) for which, consuitable conduit 28 and .oor and o'er-e of cult in the i .oh 737 nrefersfo oi 1- which, upon by U St r of cirsul co struction,

on ting stern se causes closing lroi t, ss noon he stem ted control mechanism -ei prov. q;

u the exterior well end e. cirivin"; clutch being mounted in the pestfll so as to i iijlilfi' ig movement upon its axis as the i wheel is turned. The drivclutch member 32 two radially disposed. 33 3%.- that extend divergently h respect to each other in separate planes spaced axially apart -nd which. are adapted to have he consists O4 he pedes upon its i member the operative engagement separately with corresponding levers 35 36 at different periods in the turning movement of the operating shaft 31. The levers 35 and are mounted upon a common pivot 3"! in s bracket 38 that extends upwardly from the switch 27. The lever 36 has bearing contact with the top of the operating stem 29 for the switch, and the lever 35 overlaps said lever 36 so that when the lever 35 is moved downwardly said switch stem is likewise moved downwardly through the medium of the intervening lever 38.

The lever 35 is sustained normally in its uppermost position by means of a spring 39 and is moved downwardly through operative engagement of the arm 33 upon manipulation of the hand-wheel 30 in one direction. When the hand- Zihe overflow no 2 5 has connected therein e, er 42 in which is located s tri, or bllCiZf-lt' 33 that is mounted upon a ntnl shaft so as to have ve tically swi movement in chamber, and upon end of said shaft, externally with resneet to cl? liner, is secured s, catch 45 that is pro its top with en overi with projeo l e lever 35 when 5 ill -i1o.-.'nwe,rdly tien with e lug: i? on turning mo on v 2e bus" 22 (Fig. 8). upon. the 35 secured m that wl position, T

.. cticn in hetween the n is moved 'o-osit'lon the lever is released om :5 (Fig. iii) which occurs so. measuring vesse has i: 'l and c erilow takes place down cu-sin the overflow causing bucket 43 to become fl v overflowing liquid, whereupon on downwardly causing the release movement of the catch 45. The bucket 23 has in its bottom a drain opening 5% through which the liquid accumulated in the bucket gradually escapes.

The operating mechanism has an oscillating shaft 51'mounted in a bracket 52 located adjacent the switch 27, and has upon one end a driven clutch member 53 provided with an engaging jaw 53' that is operatively associated with the jaw 32' on the driving clutch member 32. The jaws of said clutch members are so proportioned as to provide angular lost motion to a limited extent between the clutch members which permits limited independent back-turning movement of the operating shaft 31 to its neutral or intermediate position by manipulation on the hand-wheel 30.

The oscillating shaft 51 has mounted thereon a crank 54 that is operatively-connected with the links 22 and 23 by its wrist-pin 55 so that as the shaft 51 is actuated, the valves 12 and 17 are, adjusted accordingly.

The dispensing pipe 19 preferably extends upwardly to a point located externally with respect to the pedestal a suflicient distance above the capital to insure convenience in handling the dispensing hose as when applying the nozzle to the point of final delivery.

In operating the appliance the hand-wheel is turned to one of its extreme positions, as shown in Figs; 1 and 8, so that the lever is depressed by the arm 33 into switch-closing position. Thereupon, the bucket 43 is raised'to its uppermost position through the medium of the catch 45 which is actuated by engagement of the lever 35 with the lug 47 on the catch when the lever is depressed. When the hand-wheel 30 is thus turned the valves 12 and 17 through the medium of the driven clutch member 53, shaft 51, crank Stand links 22 and 23, become so adjusted that communication is established between the underground reservoir and thepump, and between the pump and the measuring vessel. The hand-wheel 30 is then turned backwardiy until the index 40 reaches its neutral position 56 (Figs. 3. and 10). The lever 35, however, is detained in switchclosing position by the engagement of the hook 46 on the catch with the finger 48 on saiddever, and while thus detained operation of the motor and the pump driven thereby continues and the measuring vessel becomes filled to overflowing and the surplus passes down through the overflow line, whereupon, the bucket 43 becomes filled downwardly causing the release of the detained lever 35 and consequent re-opening of the motor switch 27. Thus, the measure filling operation is automatically terminated and a predetermined quantity of liquid is established in the measuring vessel.

In dispensing the liquid from the measure, the operating handle is turned to its opposite extreme position (Fig. 12), whereupon, the valves 12 and 17, through the medium of the clutch members and the operatively associated connecting links 22 and 23, become so adjusted that communica= tion is established between the measuring vessel 4 and the and betwwn the pump and the discharge line 19, and coincidentally the pre= i connections between the underground res== oir, the pump the pipe 18 are shut switch is closed through action of arm 3 3 lever 36, causing operation. of the drawn therefrom the action of the ougli the line 1 of the nozzle 2i. o liuuid is dispensed is v level oi liquid, in the extent dependent that is let out through lower .30 -o of liquid can until the liquid level reaches a predator ed one of indicating mem ers and then -csing the v lve, the delivery oi the liquid in es is regulated as desired.

". operation is completed,

with the overflow liquid and is thereby moved l .e nozzle :21, and by holding the nozzle valve the hand-wheel is turned back until the index is posed at the neutral point 56. whereupon the arm 34 is moved out of engagement with the lever 36 permitting the switch to open, and thus stopping the motor. During the interim between the filling operations the bucket 43 becomes drained and is then in readiness for the next filling operation.

The relative arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus is such as to afford compactness of the general structure. For instance: The pedestal may m materially shorter than those ordinarily provided for gasoline dispensers of the "visible type, so that the measuring vessel is supported in position for observation approximately upon the level of the operator's normal point of vision. This feature is advantageous both in operating and installing the apparatus, as the operator is enabled to more readily and accurately determine the quantity of gasoline in the parent measure on said pedestal provided with liquid level indicating means, an overflow pipe for said measure, a pump, a supply pipe connecting the discharge port of the pump with said measure, a dispensing pipe terminating in a flexible hose provided with a manually operated valve-controlled nozzle, a two-way valve connected in the supply pipe and with said dispensing pipe, a suction pipe one end or which is connected with said measure at the bottom thereof, its opposite end being adapted for connection with a source of liquid supply, a second two-=way valve connected in the suction pipe and with the intake port of said p an electric motor operatively associated with said pump, a spring-restrained switch connected in the motor circuit, an actuating means for said switch, a catch automatically engageable with said means for holding said means in switch closing position, a trip interposed in the overflow pipe line operatively connected with said latch to cause release oi said switch closing memher upon overflow from said measure, manually operated control mechanism including a hanme therefor and provided with members for closing said switch when said handle is turned to either oi its extreme positions, and connections between said mechanism and said two-way valves so arranged when saidhandle is moved to one of its extreme positions said two-way valves are adju -ed that upon operation at the pump measure is tilled with liquid from the source of supply pump, and when said handle moved to its opposite extreme position and the pom operated liquid drawn from said the amp expelled through the i n opening of the needs. d dispenser, a pedestal, a trans= parent ensure mounted on said pedestal pro= vided 11 a liquid level indicating means and an overflow pipe, a pump, a supply pipe connectthe discharge port of the pump with said measure, a dispensing terminating in a fleaiblehose provided with a manually operated vaive controlled nozzle, a two-way valve connected in the suppl pipe and with said dispensing pipe, a suction pipe one end of which is connected with the measure at the bottom thereof, its opposite end being adapted for connection with. a source oi liquid supply, a second two-way valve connected in the suction pipe and with the intake port of said pump, an electric motor operatively associated with said pump, a springrestrained switch connected in the motor circuit, manually operated control mechanism including a handle and provided with members for closing said switch when said handle is turned to either of its extreme positions, and connections between said mechanism and said two-way valves so arranged that when said handle is moved to one of its extreme positions said two-way valves are adjusted so that upon operation of the pump said measure is filled with liquid from the source of supply by the pump, and when said handle is moved to its opposite extreme position and the pump is operated liquid is drawn from said measure by the pump and expelled through the dispensing pipe upon operating of the nozzle.

3. In a liquid dispenser, a pedestal, a transparent measure on said pedestal, a pump, a supply pipe connecting the discharge port of the pump with said measure, a dispensing pipe, 9. twoway valve connected in the supply pipe and with said dispensing pipe, a suction pipe having communication at one end with said measure at the bottom thereof, its opposite end being adapted for connection with a source of liquid supply, a second two-way valve connected in the suction pipe and with the intake port of said pump, means for actuating said pump, manually operated control mechanism having connections with said two-way valves so arranged that when moved to one of its operating positions said two-way valves are thereby so adjusted that upon operation of the pump said measure is filled with liquid from the source of supply by the pump, and when moved to its opposite operating position and the pump is operated liquid is drawn from said measure by the pump and expelled through the dispensing pipe.

4. In a liquid dispenser, a transparent measure and its complemental pedestal, a pump provided with means for its operation, a supply pipe connesting the discharge port of the pump with said measure, and having a two-way valve, :1 dispensing pipe connected with said valve, a suction pipe one end of which is for connection with a source of liquid supply and its opposite end having communication with said measure at the bottom thereof, a second two-way valve con,- neoted in said suction pipe and with the intake port of said pump, and control mechanism operatively associated with said two-way valves and arranged to adjust same selectively so that upon operation of said pump the measure is filled with liquid drawn from the source of liquid supply by the pump or the liquid in the measure is drawn therefrom and discharged by the pump out through said dispensing pipe, accordingly as said two-way'valves are adjusted.

5. In a liquid dispenser, a supported transparent measure having anoverflow pipe, 9. pump, a

suction pipe having a two-way valve in line connected with the intake port of said pump, one end 01' which pipe is connected with the measure and the other end being adapted for connection with a source of liquid supply, a supply pipe having a two-way valve in line and connecting the discharge port of the pump with said measure, a dispensing pipe connected with the last-mentioned two-way valve, a manually operated control mechanism'having connections with said twoway valves for simultaneous adjustment thereof upon manipulation of said mechanism, an electric motor for operating the pump, a switch mechanism controlling the motor circuit, and memmrs on said control mechanism operatively associated with said switch mechanism so that the switch is closed and the pump is driven by the motor when said two-way valves are moved to either of their operative positions.

8. In a liquid dispenser having a measuring vessel provided with an overflow pipe and a pump operated means for selectively supplyi g the vessel with liquid and dispensing the supplied liquid therefrom, including valves for controlling the supplying and dispensing operations thereof, an

electric motor operatlvely connected with said pump, a switch controlling the motor circuit provided with an operating stem, an actuating lever for said stem, 2. spring supported lever overlapping said actuating lever operably associated therewith to close said switch, a mechanism including a catchautomatically engageable with said spring-supported lever to hold some in switch closing position, means associated with said overflow pipe and said catch operated by overflow liquid from said measure to move the catch iron). holding position, and control mechanism operably connected with said valve and having members disposed to severally engage the overlapping lever and stem actuating lever accordingly as said control mechanism is adjustably positioned.

'7. In a liquid dispenser having a measuring vessel provided with an overflow pipe and pumping means for selectively filling the vessel with and dispensing liquid from the vessel, including valves for controlling the-filling and dispensing operations thereof, an electric motor operatively connected with the pump for said means, a switchclosing mechanism controllfmg the motor circuit, and manually operated means having connections with said valves for simultaneous adjustment thereof to their respective filling or dispensing positions accordingly as said manually operated means is adiusted, and provided also with means for moving said mechanism to switch closing position when said valves are in either of their operating positions.

8. In a liquid dispenser having a measuring vessel provided with an overflow pipe and pumping means for selectively filling the vessel with and dispensing liquid from the vessel, including valves for controlling the filling and dispensing operations thereof, an electric motor opcratlvely connecwzl with the pump for said means, a switch controlling the motor circuit, an actuating lever for thestem of said switch, a spring-supported lever operably engageable with said actuating lever, a catch automatically engageable with said spring supported lever to detain same in switch closing position when depressed, means associated with said overflow pipe adapted to move said catch to disengaging position by the overflow liquid from said vessel through said pipe, and manually operated mechanism for simultaneously adjusting said valves and selectively actuating said levers.

. 9. In a. liquid dispenser having a measuring vessel provided with an overflow pipe and electric motor-driven pumping for selectively m1- ing the vessel with and dispensing liquid from the vessel, including valves for controlling the filling and operations thereof, a switch controlling the motor circuit, an actuating lever for the stem of said switch, a spring-supported lever operably en'gageable with said actuating lever, a catch automatically engagcable with said spring supported lever to detain same in switch closing position when actuated, mcanaassociated vim members for severally actuating said levers, and engaging clutch members secured respectively on said shafts so disposed as to have limited lost angular relative movement to permit said operating shaft to be turned back to its neutral position and free return movement of said spring supported lever when released from said catch while said valves are in position for the filling operation.

GEQRGE U. BEAM. 

